Qatar’s Spectacular Desert

Qatar may not have the stunning sand dunes that are dotted throughout the United Arab Emirates, but this sprightly thumb in the Arabian Gulf has its spots of natural beauty. Naturally, (or I guess, not naturally at all actually), you need access to a 4x4 truck or SUV to see this spot, which lurks hidden from the Dukhan Highway.

Near the oil town of Dukhan is a spectacular canyon formed by gypsum deposits and ancient coral reefs. On a Thursday morning, this spot is empty. Nearby is an old film set through which you can wander. As much as I was intrigued by Doha, I loved my 45 minutes or so that we spent here with the adorable golden retriever mix, Poppy. It was a sublime break from the bustle and commerce of Qatar’s capital.

Enjoy the pictures of the Qatar desert. Special thanks to Amy Bambridge, a UK expat who generously took me here last week. This ranked highly as a bright spot during my travel to the Middle East, and was the best spontaneous desert safari around.